Entrepreneur / Co-Founder
Name: Santiago Walliser
Degree: MA in Banking & Finance / PhD Candidate in Business Administration
Profession: Entrepreneur / Co-Founder
Employer: Lean FS / portfoliochat.ai
Describe your job in one sentence.
I am the co-founder of Lean FS and support companies across all industries with training, strategic analysis, and implementation for the successful introduction of digitalization and AI.
What are the three main tasks in your job?
I represent the role of visionary at Lean FS. My main tasks include developing new strategic directions for our markets, offerings, partnerships, and talent. I am responsible for customer acquisition and marketing and am intensively involved with new technological and AI trends in order to embed them meaningfully in our solutions for customers.
What do you think is the best/most exciting thing about this job?
The most exciting thing about my job is always being close to the market and using market trends to identify challenges in specific sectors that can be solved with new technologies. That's exactly how our projects come about: from real needs that we identify early on and address with practical, effective solutions. It is particularly motivating when customers benefit noticeably from this – often, it even leads to long-term, personal relationships. At the same time, I am fascinated by the dynamics of the AI market. It is changing rapidly and requires constant curiosity, openness, and a willingness to learn. Not every new solution is relevant, but over time you develop a good sense of which trends really have substance and can actively help shape them. Seeing how an idea develops into a functioning product or project that helps others and is recognized is the greatest motivation for me.
What is the biggest challenge in this job?
The biggest challenge in my job is that the AI market is very confusing. Many providers promise more than they deliver, which often unsettles customers and requires a lot of explanatory work in sales. It takes patience to clearly demonstrate the real added value of solutions and build trust. Long days and intense phases are also part of the job, especially when a company is in its start-up phase. You have a lot of responsibility and often work on several fronts at the same time. Nevertheless, the feeling of creating something of your own and making progress visible outweighs everything else. Another challenge is prioritization. Depending on the phase of the company, you have to concentrate on the most important issues and not get bogged down. Even if many exciting ideas arise, it takes discipline to stay focused and move projects forward step by step.
What does it take to enter this profession or be successful in it?
To be successful in this profession, in addition to analytical thinking and empathy, you need discipline, perseverance, and the will to believe in yourself and your own vision, even in difficult moments. Clear and structured communication skills are important, as is the ability to explain complex topics in simple terms. Professional experience helps you to understand processes and decision-making paths in companies and to act in a targeted manner. Specialist knowledge gained during your studies provides a good foundation, but the decisive factor is your willingness to think critically, take responsibility, and continuously develop yourself—both professionally and personally.
What opportunities for advancement/further development are there?
There are many opportunities for development in this profession. You can develop new software products or services and successfully launch them on the market, expand existing offerings into new industries or countries, or build entirely new companies in other areas. As you gain experience, the focus shifts increasingly from operational work to strategic design, leadership, and the development of new business areas.
As a graduate, what would you have liked to know about this profession?
I would have liked to have known earlier how important it is to be able to switch quickly between the front line and the bird's-eye view. Only those who have mastered both can make informed decisions, set priorities correctly, and manage projects efficiently. It is equally important to recognize your own character and the right role for you early on, because not everyone is cut out for every task. Over time, you discover abilities that were previously hidden and learn where your strengths really lie. In my opinion, developing this intuition and testing it early on in real project situations is crucial for long-term success.
What advice would you give to students who are interested in this job?
My advice to students is to start networking early and be open to approaching people. Many are more helpful than you might think, but you should still be selective and learn to quickly distinguish between valuable contacts and time wasters. It's also important to listen, ask good questions, and put your ego aside. Those who can learn from others develop faster, both professionally and personally. Larger but dynamic companies are a good place to start your career, as you can quickly learn about different topics. A combination of broad understanding and focused attention is crucial today. In the field of AI, you should understand the basic technological principles, but above all learn how to apply them meaningfully in different business contexts and accompany them strategically and humanely—that is the key to solving real problems.
Looking back on your career, is there anything you would do differently? Why?
Looking back, I wouldn't do anything differently, because every decision and every mistake was an important part of my learning process. I worked hard, tried many things, and often asked myself whether I was on the right track—that's exactly how I developed. However, what I would do differently today is focus more on personal encounters in sales. Direct contact is a much better way to build emotions, trust, and self-confidence than online. I learned that over time, and it has noticeably changed my work.
Is there anything else you would like to share with current students?
My advice to students is to be proactive and seek out opportunities instead of waiting for them to come to you. Talk to people, network, and don't be afraid to contact former or current employees of a company directly to gain real insights. Your first job should offer one thing above all else: the opportunity to learn a lot, and that's only possible if the environment and the team are right. Don't compare yourself to others and don't doubt yourself. Everyone has their own path and their own pace. You can acquire specialist knowledge, but character, motivation, and a willingness to learn are priceless. If you have this attitude, you will be successful in the long term.
(Status: November 2025)